Red Sox Ready Zach Penrod, a 27-year-old Southpaw, for Potential Major League Breakout

Zach Penrod’s Journey to the Big Leagues

The Boston Red Sox, in a strategic move, have advanced Zach Penrod, a 27-year-old southpaw, who has spent three years in the independent circuit. This promotion puts him in line for a potential major league debut. Penrod’s contract was picked up by Boston from Worcester on a Saturday, and Bailey Horn, another left-handed pitcher, was also brought up from the Triple-A farm squad.

The decision to advance Penrod and Horn came after left-handed pitcher Cam Booser and right-handed pitcher Zack Kelly were sent back to Worcester following the Friday night 5-4 defeat against the New York Yankees. Tyler Heineman, a catcher, was also designated for assignment.

Penrod’s Personal and Professional Journey

Zach Penrod’s wife, Kyla, and their newborn daughter, Noa Mae, were expected to cheer him on at the Yankee Stadium. Penrod’s career has been a series of interesting turns. In 2017, he played for Corban, an NAIA school, and then for NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene in Idaho the next year, where he showcased his skills both as an outfielder and a pitcher.

He was signed by Texas as an undrafted free agent in August 2018, but had to sit out 2019 following Tommy John surgery. He was released in June 2020, a year when the minor league season was called off due to the pandemic.

Penrod’s Career Highlights and Performance

Penrod spent some time in 2021 and ’22 at Billings, before beginning 2023 with another Pioneer League club, Missoula. He was signed by Boston to a minor league contract on Aug. 16 of last year, and just two days later, he pitched five scoreless innings for Class A Greenville.

During his four starts for the Drive, Penrod managed a 2.18 ERA, which impressed Boston enough to send him to the Arizona Fall League. He started this season at Double-A Portland, was promoted to Worcester on May 26, and logged a 5.93 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 27⅔ innings in five starts and 10 relief appearances at the Triple-A level. He had a brief downtime between June 6 and July 26 due to left shin inflammation.

This year at Triple-A, his fastball averaged 94.7 mph, and he hit a high of 98.9 mph with a pitch in the sixth inning on Aug. 16.